JEANNETTE SHIRLEY SIMS

Jeannette Shirley Sims was born in Chicago, IL on Nov. 26, 1923 to Armand Defaro and Lillian Ethel Lee. Jeannette attended Morgan Park High School and Chicago Teacher's College where she earned her bachelors degree in mathematics. In 1946, Jeannette married Dr. Irving W. Sims, formerly of Detroit, MI. Jeannette taught in the Chicago Public Schools for 40 years, sharing her love of history, math and literature with students at Gillespie and Pirie Elementary Schools. After her children were grown, Jeannette received her masters degree in English from Chicago State University. Jeannette enjoyed travel, drama, bridge, classic movies, watching team sports, all forms of excellent music, her parents' summer home in Union Pier, MI, and spending time with family and friends. She was a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, the Paragon Bridge Club, the "Trees and Twigs" Parents Organization, and a lifelong member of St. Edmunds Episcopal Church. Jeannette is remembered for her intelligence, wit, humility, compassion, sense of humor and quiet strength. Jeannette leaves behind a loving famiy: Diana Embil (Kweku), Gail Parrish (Maurice), Dexter Sims (Kim); eleven grandchildren; many great- grandchildren and a host of other family members and friends. Jeannette passed from this life May 22, 2011. Services were held May 28, 2011 at St. Edmunds Church.